The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-08-04

rowi Ishall have q savant here like
yourself, and you two viii enjoy EACH
Others company, am sure. And
my husband will DO 50 happy to have
YOU"
Thanked her for the invitation.
and promised to be on hand.
AT the appointed hour was shown
into their modest parior, and you may
be sure the husbands gratitude va
no less warmly expressed than the
vines. And little Lizzie threw her
arms around my neck, and showered
on me the innocent caresses of hap
py child. 1seemed. indeed, to be one
of the family.
mo dinner was merry one, the
savant seemed to be an Interesting
man-in brief, I passed an excellent
evening.
The air had been heavy the whole
day, and in the evening storm came
on. Thunder-claps succeeded one
another without interruption, the
rain fell In torrents. Whether it'was
tho effect OF the storm, OF the sufficat.
Ing heat, or of the wine lhad drunk,
| telt q strange melancholy, could
not breathe comfortably. l. was
about TO set out for home, however,
Tor it was late and my house was at
some distance: but they insisted that
should stay. 1t would be- foolish
to expose myself to such a temp:
est; when / was not feeling well;
the mother begged me with such a
good grace that felt:forced to remain
and pass the hight in that hospitable
house. They tremendously conduct
ed mo to my room, and they wished
me good night. I remember, even,
that Lizzie having fallen asleep In her
father s arms, l kissed her little check.
paled by sleep; and her little dimpled
arms:
Lett alone l began to undress slowly
and wandering about the room, as
one always does when they sleep in q
strange place. felt Us If should
smother in the close atmosphere Of
the room: Before getting in bed,
wanted to inhale d little of the out
side air, and in spite OF the roaring
storm, 1tried to open the window. II
was false window.
"Well, WE'LL" l exclaimed, a little
surprised.
thought would remove the chin.
ney-screen; it was q false chimney
l rushed to the door-it was locked!
Fear seized mo, and. holding nv
breath. l listened. The house va,
quiet, all seemed to be asleep, Then
l inspected the room carefully, strain
Ing my ears for the least sound. On the
floor, near the bed, noticed spots; it
was blood-dried and blackened bloodl
l shuddered, and cold sweat stood
out on my forehead. Blood! Why
should there be blood there? And !
saw that a whole seq of blood must
have been split therefor a great
space around, the hard wooden floor
had been freshly scrubbed and scrap
ed. All at once l cried out. Under
the bed had seen a man, stretched
out, mottOnless as an overturned
statue. I could not cry or call out.
With trembling hands I touched the
man. He did not move. With tremb.
ling hands l pushed the man; he did
not move. With trembling hands
seized the man by the feet and drew
him forth-he was dead! His neck
had been clearly cut, as with one
stroke Of a razor, and the head held
to the trunk only by slender liga
| ment. CIV
thought should 90 mad. But
something must he done--the assassin
might come ut any moment. [ raised
the body to place 1t on the bed. l
made a false step, and the livid head
turned over, swung to and fro for a
moment like hideous pendulum, and
then detached from the trunk, tell on
the floor with a dull sound. With great
difficulty introduced the decapitat-
| ed trunk between the sheets picked up
the head and placed 1t on the pillow
like that of q sleeping man, and. hav.
ing blown out the candle, slipped
under the bed. did oil this mechan-
ically, without thought OF defense OF
| safetyj 1t was instinct that prompted
me, not intelligence OK reflection
My teeth Chartered. My hands were
wet with thick moisture. I felt as II
had gone to bed In q charnel- house.
remained there, In that awful fear,
minutes. hours, months, years, centu.
ries-1 do not know how long. l lost
all idea OF time and place. All was 81
lent. From without, the noise of the
| storm and the whistllng OF the wind
came to Mo softened and sad, like
means. d. l could not picture to myself
the assassin who was comlng-who
was there perhaps. In that state ol
horror, I could sec only little Lizzie
fair. rosy, and frank, with her doll
and her great hat, I could see her sleep
| 4or, Sok n II h
she slightly raised her eyelids and dis
closed her eyes. which seemed to me
to be bold. implacable, cruel. murder
Gus.
The door opened, but as softly al
the scratching of a mouse. biz my
lips till the blood came, to keep from
crying out. Now q man stepped In with
gliding tread, with infinite precautions
to avoid touching the furniture. II
seemed to me as II could see the cruel,
clutching fingers gliding over my
clothes. searching my pockets. Then
the steps came nearer, seemed to Craze
me. felt that the man was bending
over the bed, that he struck one fie1 CT
blow. Then knew nothing more.
When recovered consciousness, the
room had become silent again. But
fright held me nailed to the spot. AT
length decided to escape, with what
caution you may imagine. On tiptot
l gained the door, which had not been
closed. Not a sound, not breath
Feeling my way, l passed into the hall
1 waited to see q head thrust sudden
ly from out the shadows, q knife gleanl
in the dark. But no-the brute, glut'
ted with crime, slept without remorse,
l descended the stairs, drew. the bolt
of the door, and, halt faintinQ, with
the blood frozen in my veins, fell in
to the gutter OF the deserted street.
! Doctor Bertram had listened to my
recital with the deepest interest.
"And there l found you, Mr.: Fur
Miss, and In what q state! Could you
| recognize the housel"
EYES," replied; "but to what end?''
"Woll, let me cure you, and then
we shall go together to the house Of